F-100 1972 390 oil pan gasket/pump

[pickly]

i'm trying to replace my oil pan gasket on my 72 F-100 390 but i'm having some trouble reaching the bolts for the oil pump. I'm following the 1972 Ford shop manual for service mechanics but it doesn't say anything about jacking up the engine to give clearance. Is there a secret that I'm missing how to get the pan low enough to be able to unbolt the oil pump to let it drop into the pan? or do i just have to loosen the engine mounts and raise the engine to allow for enough clearance?

[fordman]

raising the enigne is probably the easy way to do it. the other way requires you to turn a 1/8 of a turn with a end wrench for about an hour to get one bolt out. when you jack up the enigne put some wood block between the mounts and the stands fo rsafety and to get the jack out of the way.

[pickly]

Thanks for the fast reply! What's the best place to raise the engine from? also, what do i need to loosen first before I do that? I have a cork replacement 1 piece gasket. Should I put it on dry or use a little RTV to attach it to the pan or block? Much thanks!

[fordman]

well yo ucan jack the engine from abotu any place. the easiest palce is the crank damper and pulley. but since it is round it could roll while yo uare jacking. i have had it happen. but there really isnt a better place to jack. unless you used a cherry picker from the top. please be careful when jacking this up. i dont want to feel bad if it falls and you get hurt. as far as the gasket. i use weather strip adhesive to attach cork to the tin . like the pan or the valve covers. but anything you have would probalby work to stick it on there. as long as its clean and dry the stuff will stick the gasket.

[fordman]

oh you remove the nuts from under the engine stands to motor mounts is all. before jacking.

[OldRedFord]

Not really a fan of jacking on the harmonic balencer (damper). Id use some bolts threaded in the front of the block to lift it up a bit.

[fordman]

im not either. ever since that one rolled on me and came off the jack. it didnt hurt me or hurt anything else. but it could have.

[pickly]

Thanks all of the help! What a great site! One more question: Do I have to just unbolt the engine mounts and nothing else? Nothing needs to be loosened on the crankshaft to prevent binding or damaging when the engine is lifted? It would have been nice of Ford to make this a little easier to change out! Many thanks!

[fordman]

no just the engine mounts.